Just before Christmas, Christian activist Charles McVety was found by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council to be in contravention of their code in certain comments he made about gay people on his Word TV show.

The program appears each weekend on CTS, where I have a nightly current affairs show.

Interestingly enough, the council concluded most of what he had said — while opposed to the gay community and often strongly worded — was within their guidelines, but in a small number of specific areas he had made unacceptable comments.

McVety is a friend. That does not mean I always agree with him, and I have told him so repeatedly.

He has, however, appeared on my show, as have gay activists, atheist leaders, Marxists and all sorts of people whose views I find objectionable. Informed disagreement in the context of mutual respect and tolerance is the keystone not only of a civilized society, but of good television.

The issue here, though, is whether people should be allowed to say whatever they want on television. In this case, CTS could not have acted more responsibly. They didn’t air McVety’s show for one week because they wanted to respect the standards council and also to give McVety the opportunity to meet with them before proceeding.

They did indeed meet and established that his program would continue, but some monitoring and consultation would be necessary. This is not censorship.

In all my time at the station, I have not once been told to change or soften my opinions. This is in spite of being threatened with death by various “progressive thinkers” for my alleged views.

Nor am I alone in this — it’s almost standard for social conservatives in particular to be personally abused for their views. Personally, I love it!

But let’s put this is in greater perspective. I have heard evangelicals described on Canadian TV networks as “dangerous extremists,” “hateful bigots, homophobes and anti-Semites” and “ignorant, stupid rednecks who have no place in public life.”

‘Habitual pedophiles’

I’ve heard Roman Catholic priests described as “all child molesters and habitual pedophiles,” the Pope as “a Nazi who hid child rape and welcomed a Holocaust-denying bishop back into his Neanderthal church.”

In all seriousness, is there any thinking person out there who genuinely believes that all ideas and people are treated respectfully and equally on Canadian airwaves?

Of course not.

Ask any conservative, pro-lifer or Christian how they feel about our television networks. Ask yourself how often you have seen the loaded question asked, seen the sneer of disapproval or contempt on a journalist’s face.

Canadian television is a level playing-field only for those whose sense of balance is far to the left.

While I’m sure Charles McVety is far from happy at what has gone on, something positive might just materialize.

The ruling and its consequences could lead Canadian broadcasters and their overseers to finally understand that all, and not just some people can be offended by what is said on television, and insults come from all quarters, even chosen victim groups.

Hey, enormous miracles do happen — even publicly funded ones.

Michael Coren Toronto Sun (January 8, 2011)